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The US and Russian presidents may swap compliments at their first summit in Helsinki on Monday, but they are deeply divided on issues including Syria, Ukraine and alleged Russian election-meddling.

Washington has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia over recent years, some of which Mr Trump himself reluctantly signed off on after taking office in 2017.

Here is a summary of the sticking points between the two powers:

Since the start of Mr Trump's presidency, relations have been tainted by allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections and suspicions that the billionaire's campaign team colluded with the Kremlin.

Russia has denied any interference. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has insisted that Mr Trump at his meeting with Mr Putin "will make clear that meddling in our elections is completely unacceptable."

Russia is also concerned with Nato plans launched in 2010 for a European missile shield that is due to be completed in 2020 with installations in Romania and Poland.

President Trump has lashed out at other Nato allies, urging them to spend more on defence.

- Iran nuclear deal -

The American leader's unilateral decision to pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal signed in 2015 after lengthy negotiations and to reimpose sanctions on Iran left both Russia and the West flabbergasted.

Russia, which has close ties both with Syria and Iran, has said European countries must "jointly defend their legal interests" in the deal.

- North Korea -

Russia reacted positively to a June 12 meeting between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. They signed a joint declaration but did not achieve any concrete breakthroughs on Pyongyang's nuclear activities.